Despite months of speculation that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal would be picked as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate, Romney named Representative Paul Ryan, R-WI, as his choice Saturday.
Several national news sources including The Associated Press and USA Today posted stories online around midnight Friday that cited sources close to the vetting process saying Romney had chosen Ryan. Romney followed with an announcement via iPhone app and delivered his official announcement in a speech in Virginia Saturday morning.
Jindal supported Romney’s choice, telling the Associate Press that Ryan “has the courage of convictions, which is what our nation needs.”
CNN posted a story pushing for Jindal as the vice presidential candidate in May, emphasizing his ability to relate to the middle class. David Graham of The Atlantic also reasoned that Jindal is someone willing to fight for conservative values, as evidenced by his stance on the national healthcare system.
But not all of the hype surrounding the Louisiana governor has been positive. LSU political communication professor and director of the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs Robert Mann posted several entries to his blog “Something Like the Truth” about why Jindal should not become Romney’s vice presidential candidate.
 Mann wrote a memo to Romney listing 11 reasons why Jindal is an unviable candidate, saying Jindal has “crippled” state higher education, doesn’t tolerate dissent and will not help Romney win Louisiana, which is already his.
Jindal was also discussed as a contender for the vice presidency in 2008, when former Republican presidential nominee John McCain chose then-Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin as his running mate.
 
 
 
—- Contact Megan Dunbar at [email protected]